Flex irrigation basin

ABSTRACT

A basin with opposing hinged doors for providing a hospital-grade basin which can be used as either a traditional, watertight basin or a modified watertight basin that includes half-moon shaped openings disposed in its side walls to allow a patient&#39;s limb to rest comfortably while positioned across the basin. The basin with opposing hinged doors defines a tub member that includes at least one side wall with a semicircle opening extending down into it from the top of the wall. For each opening, a correspondingly shaped door is hingedly attached adjacent thereto, enabling it to move between a closed position defining the traditional, watertight basin and an open position defining a modified watertight basin with an opening for part of a limb. Each opening and door employ a locking means suitable to secure the door in place when desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front longitudinal side perspective view of a basin with opposing hinged doors built in accordance with the present invention having its doors in a closed position.

FIG. 2 is a back longitudinal elevational view of a basin with opposing hinged doors built in accordance with the present invention having its doors in an open position.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the tub member of a basin with opposing hinged doors built in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a large door side elevational view of the tub member of a basin with opposing hinged doors built in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a section of the side wall of the tub member of a basin with opposing hinged doors built in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the small door of a basin with opposing hinged doors built in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the small door of a basin with opposing hinged doors built in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the large door of a basin with opposing hinged doors built in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the large door of a basin with opposing hinged doors built in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the fastening pin of a basin with opposing hinged doors built in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of a section of the side wall of the tub member and corresponding door of a basin with opposing hinged doors built in accordance with the present invention with the door in the open position.

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of a section of the side wall of the tub member and corresponding door of a basin with opposing hinged doors built in accordance with the present invention with the door in the closed position.

FIG. 13 is a side perspective view of a basin with opposing hinged doors built in accordance with a round embodiment of the present invention having its doors in a closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings and in particular FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, a basin with opposing hinged doors 100 is shown as a four sided tub member 110 that includes a first side wall 111, a second side wall 112, a large door side wall 113, and a small door side wall 114, each of which extend up from a tub floor 115. In the preferred embodiment, the tub member 110 is defined by a rectangular shape with the first side wall 111 and the second side wall 112 defining its longitudinal sides. It is contemplated, however, that in other embodiments the large door side wall 113 and small door side wall 114 may define the longitudinal sides or the tub member 110 may be defined by an alternate shape suitable for a basin, such as a kidney shape, a round shape, or an oval shape. It is additionally contemplated that the tub member 110 may be constructed in a range of sizes, whether to accommodate different body parts or different size requirements.

In the preferred embodiment, the large door side wall 113 includes a large door frame section 130 and the small door side wall 114 includes a small door frame section 140. The large door frame section 130 outlines a semi-circular shaped large opening extending down from the top of the large door side wall 113 into the body of the large door side wall 113. The large door frame section 130 includes a large mounting frame 131 which defines a frame structure that extends around the border of the large opening that extends into the large door side wall 113, thereby creating a large border surface area 132 having increased thickness relative to the thickness of the large door side wall 113. In the preferred embodiment, the large opening has a diameter of 5.5 inches, resulting in it extending 5.5 inches wide across the large door side wall 113 at the widest point and 2.75 inches into the large door side wall 113 at its deepest point.

Integral with the large door frame section 130 is a large door member 150 sized to fit into the large mounting frame 131, thereby allowing it to be moved into a closed position in the large door frame section 130, as illustrated by FIG. 1, into an open position relative to the large door frame section 130 as illustrated in FIG. 2, as well as hinged between the closed and open positions. It is contemplated, however, that the large door frame section 130 and corresponding large door member 150 may together be constructed in alternate shapes and different sizes relative to the large door side wall 113.

The small door side wall 114 is structured in a similar manner as the large door side wall 113, with the only substantive difference being that the small door frame section 140 is smaller than the large door frame section 130. Accordingly, the small door frame section 140 outlines a semi-circular shaped small opening extending down from the top of the small door side wall 114 into the body of the small door side wall 114. The small door frame section 140 includes a small mounting frame 141 which defines a frame structure that extends around the border of the small opening that extends into the small door side wall 114, thereby creating a small border surface area 142 having increased thickness relative to the thickness of the small door side wall 114. In the preferred embodiment, the small opening has a diameter of 4 inches, resulting in it extending 4 inches wide across the small door side wall 114 at the widest point and 2 inches into the small door side wall 114 at its deepest point.

Integral with the small door frame section 140 is a small door member 160 sized to fit into the small mounting frame 141, thereby allowing it to be moved into a closed position in the small door frame section 140, as illustrated by FIG. 1, into an open position relative to the small door frame section 140 as illustrated in FIG. 2, as well as hinged between the closed and open positions. It is contemplated, however, that the small door frame section 140 and corresponding small door member 160 may together be constructed in alternate shapes and different sizes relative to the small door side wall 114.

It is contemplated that by including the large door frame section 130 and the small door frame section 140, the tub member 110 provides a modified basin means for collecting debris, water, run-off materials or specimens. Further, by corresponding to the respective large door frame section 130 and the small door frame section 140, the large door member 150 and small door member 160 each provide a door means for selectively opening and closing an entry point in the tub member 110.

Referring now to FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, the large border surface area 132 and small border surface area 142 each include a centrally disposed ridge member 133, 143 running longitudinally through it. The ridge members 133, 143, along with corresponding centrally disposed recesses 151, 161 in large door member 150 and small door member 160, respectively, provide a locking means for securing the large door member 150 and small door member 160 in the large door frame section 130 and small door frame section 140, respectively, when the respective door member is in the closed position. The locking means is operative to allow the large door member 150 to snap into the large door frame section 130 when the large door member 150 is moved to the closed position. In this regard, when the large door member 150 is moved to the closed position, the ridge member 133 frictionally passes along the circumferential surface of the large door member 150 as it moves toward the closed position and engages the recess 151 once the large door member 150 is in the closed position. When secured in the closed position, the large door member 150 is operative to close the large opening outlined by the large door frame section 130 and form a watertight seal.

The locking means operates in essentially the same manner with the small door member 160 and the small door frame section 140. Thus, the small door member 160 snaps into the small door frame section 140 when the small door member 160 is moved to the closed position. When the small door member 160 is moved to the closed position, the ridge member 143 frictionally passes along the circumferential surface of the small door member 160 as it moves toward the closed position and engages the recess 161 once the small door member 160 is in the closed position. As with the large door member, when the small door member 160 is secured in the closed position, it closes the small opening outlined by the small door frame section 140 and forms a watertight seal.

A small door hinge mechanism enables the small door member 160 to attach to the small door side wall 114. The small door hinge mechanism is defined by two hinge attachment arms 162 which extend down from the bottom of the small door member 160, a small wall receiving member (not shown, but identical to the large wall receiving member 123 discussed below) which extends out from the side of the small door side wall 114 underneath the small door frame section 140, and a fastening pin 120. The fastening pin 120 is structured to pass transversely through holes in both the small wall receiving member and the two hinge attachment arms 162 and remain fixed therein, thereby forming a pivot about which the small door member 160 rotates relative to the small door side wall 114.

The large door member 150 and large door side wall 113 are connected through a large door hinge mechanism, which employs the same type of components as the small door hinge mechanism. Accordingly, the large door hinge mechanism is defined by two hinge attachment arms 152 which extend down from the bottom of the large door member 150, a large wall receiving member 123 which extends out from the side of the large door side wall 113 underneath the large door frame section 130, and another fastening pin 120. As with the small door hinge mechanism, the fastening pin 120 is structured to pass transversely through holes in both the large wall receiving slot member 123 and the two hinge attachment arms 152 and remain fixed therein, thereby forming a pivot about which the large door member 150 rotates relative to the small door side wall 113.

In the preferred embodiment, a secondary locking means for securing the large door member 150 and small door member 160 in the large door frame section 130 and small door frame section 140, respectively, when the respective door member is in the closed position is present on each door and defined by identical structures. The second locking means, as illustrated on the large door side wall 113 in FIGS. 11 and 12, includes a locking recess 153 formed in the area between the two hinge attachment arms 152 and the large door member 150 and the abutment formed by large mounting frame 131 as it extends outward from the large door side wall 113. The corresponding locking recess 153 and abutment engage when the large door member 150 is in the closed position relative to the large door frame section 130, thereby providing a supplemental lock for keeping the large door member 150 in place. It is understood that the small door member 160 and small door frame section 140 include identical structures, thereby enabling such a supplemental lock in their operation.

Referring now to FIG. 13, an alternate embodiment of a basin with opposing hinged doors 200 is shown as a circular tub member 210 with a circumferential side wall 211 that includes a large door frame section 230 surrounding a large opening 231 and a small door frame section 240 surrounding a small opening 241. As with the rectangular embodiment, integral with the large door frame section 230 is a large door member 250 sized to fit into the large opening 231, thereby allowing it to be moved into a closed position in the large door frame section 230 and integral with the small door frame section 240 is a small door member 260 sized to fit into the small opening 241, thereby allowing it to be moved into a closed position in the small door frame section 240. It is contemplated that the large door frame section 230 and large door member 250 and the small door frame section 240 and small door member 260, respectively, are operative to move between an open and closed position in the same manner as described above for the rectangular embodiment.

The present invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A basin with hinged doors, comprising: a modified tub member having at least one entry point disposed in a side wall, wherein said entry point defines an opening which extends down from the top of the side wall in which the entry point is disposed; one door member that corresponds with each entry point in the modified tub member and is sized to cover the opening that defines the corresponding entry point, wherein the door member is attached to the modified tub member and configured to move between a closed position where it obstructs the corresponding entry point sufficient to create a water-tight seal and an open position where it does not obstruct the corresponding entry point sufficient to create a water-tight seal.
 2. The basin with hinged doors of claim 1, wherein the entry point defines a door frame section.
 3. The basin with hinged doors of claim 2, wherein the door frame section includes a mounting frame.
 4. The basin with hinged doors of claim 3, wherein the door member is configured to be positioned in the mounting frame and lay flush with the interior of the side wall when in the closed position.
 5. The basin with hinged doors of claim 2, wherein the door member is configured to snap into the door frame section when in the closed position, thereby securing it in place.
 6. The basin with hinged doors of claim 5, wherein the door member is configured to be secured in the door frame section through a ridge in the door frame section and a corresponding recess in the door member.
 7. The basin with hinged doors of claim 2, wherein the door frame section and door member are semicircular shaped.
 8. The basin with hinged doors of claim 2, wherein the door member is attached to the side wall of the modified tub member through a hinge connection.
 9. The basin with hinged doors of claim 8, wherein the hinge connection is defined by at least one hinge attachment arm on the door member, at least one receiving slot on side wall, and a fastening pin structured to pass transversely through both the at least one receiving slot and the at least one attachment arm and remain fixed therein, with the fastening pin thereby forming a pivot about which the door member rotates relative to the side wall.
 10. A basin with hinged doors, comprising: a modified tub member defining a rectangular body with four side walls, wherein said modified tub member has two one-entry points disposed in opposing side walls and each of said entry points defines an opening which extends down from the top of the side wall in which the entry point is disposed; a door member that corresponds with each entry point in the modified tub member and is sized to cover the opening that defines the corresponding entry point, wherein each door member is attached to the modified tub member and configured to move between a closed position where it obstructs the corresponding entry point sufficient to create a water-tight seal and an open position where it does not obstruct the corresponding entry point sufficient to create a water-tight seal.
 11. The basin with hinged doors of claim 10, wherein each entry point defines a door frame section having distinct dimensions.
 12. The basin with hinged doors of claim 11, wherein each door frame section includes a mounting frame.
 13. The basin with hinged doors of claim 12, wherein each door member is configured to be positioned in the corresponding mounting frame and lay flush with the interior of the side wall when in the closed position.
 14. The basin with hinged doors of claim 11, wherein each door member is configured to snap into the corresponding door frame section when in the closed position, thereby securing it in place.
 15. The basin with hinged doors of claim 14, wherein each door member is configured to be secured in the corresponding door frame section through a ridge in the door frame section and a corresponding recess in the door member.
 16. The basin with hinged doors of claim 11, wherein each door frame section and door member are semicircular shaped.
 17. The basin with hinged doors of claim 11, wherein each door member is attached to the side wall of the modified tub member through a hinge connection.
 18. The basin with hinged doors of claim 17, wherein each hinge connection is defined by at least one hinge attachment arm on the respective door member, at least one receiving slot on corresponding side wall, and a fastening pin structured to pass transversely through both the at least one receiving slot and the at least one attachment arm and remain fixed therein, with the fastening pin thereby forming a pivot about which the respective door member rotates relative to the corresponding side wall.
 19. A basin with hinged doors, comprising: a modified basin means for collecting debris, water, run-off materials or specimens; at least one door means for selectively opening and closing a corresponding entry point in the modified basin means; and a locking means for securing each of the at least one door means in its corresponding entry point when the door means is in the closed position.
 20. The basin with hinged doors of claim 19, additionally comprising a secondary locking means each of the at least one door means in its corresponding entry point when the door means is in the closed position. 